The quantum revolution: First port of call
FT News Briefing
Forhecz Topher
4.4 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 1 April 2023
⏱️ 26 minutes
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Summary
The Port of Los Angeles is one of the world’s busiest — and most inefficient. It’s now using an early quantum computing application to help solve its logistical bottlenecks.
Has it made a difference? The FT’s John Thornhill investigates. We hear from truck drivers at the Port of Los Angeles; Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association; SavantX co-founder Ed Heinbockel, who helped bring quantum computing to the port; and Alan Baratz, president of D-Wave Systems. Plus, John and FT artificial intelligence editor Madhumita Murgia discuss what optimisation at the Port of Los Angeles tells us about the future of quantum technology.
Presented by Madhumita Murgia and John Thornhill, produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to the National Quantum Computing Center for their help on this episode.
We're keen to hear more from our listeners about this show and want to know what you'd like to hear more of, so we're running a survey which you can find at ft.com/techtonicsurvey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort Earbuds.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The FT News Briefing is supported by Equinole, the UK's energy partner. |
| 0:06.3 | Learn more at equinole.co.uk |
| 0:10.3 | Hi, my name is Madhumita Mergia and I'm one of the presenters of Tech Tonic. |
| 0:15.6 | We're looking for some feedback from our listeners about the show. |
| 0:18.9 | So if you have a second, please fill out our brief listener survey which you can find |
| 0:23.6 | at ft.com slash Tech Tonic Survey. |
| 0:30.3 | Straight on, yeah. Straight on. |
| 0:33.0 | Back in February, Tech Tonic producer Josh and I visited the port of Los Angeles. |
| 0:39.4 | Now you might be wondering why are they visiting a port for a series about quantum computing? |
| 0:45.0 | We'll just hang in there. |
| 0:46.2 | You have a mile. Turn right. |
| 0:48.5 | Do you want to describe what we're looking at going over this bridge? |
| 0:51.6 | Well, we're just going over the Vincent Thomas bridge into the most extraordinarily large port I've |
| 0:56.5 | ever seen. There are masses of multicolored containers on our left and we're heading to meet some |
| 1:03.3 | truckers. The port itself is a labyrinth of off ramps and overpasses. |
| 1:08.3 | As we pulled in, we got a good view of the dangling cranes, massive cargo ships, |
| 1:12.9 | and just mountains upon mountains of shipping containers. |
| 1:16.6 | I think it does as far as you can see it, it has parts. |
| 1:20.1 | Yeah, I'm just a few lose one. |
| 1:23.4 | I know what you got to find it. |
| 1:25.5 | We parked on a back road in the port. |
| 1:28.0 | Had a bite to eat at Taco Stand and spoke to a couple of truck drivers who were taking their lunch break. |
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